Device for coupling and uncoupling drill rod joints



March 27, 1951 H. c. JoHANsEN 2,546,224

DEVICE FOR couPLING AND uNcouPLING DRILL non Jom'rs Filed Aug. 29, 19.45

3 Sheets-Sheet 1- March 27, 1951 H. c. JoHANsEN y 2,546,224

DEVICE FOR COUPLING AND UNCOUPLING DRILL ROD JOINTS Filed Aug. 29, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 wfg March 27, 1951 H. c. JoHANsx-:N 2,546,224

' DEVICE FOR coUPLING AND UNcouPLING DRILL Ron JoINTs Filed Aug. 29, 1945 s sheets-sheet s..

lzvem 2931 Harry fc/57m mmm.

Patented Mar. 27, 1951 DEVICE FOR COUILING AND UNCOUPLIN DRILL ROD J OINTS Harry C. Johansen, Michigan City, Ind., assignor to Joy Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application August 29, 1945, Serial No. 613,383

(CL Z55- 35) 12 Claims. A l

My invention relates to devices for making or breaking threaded couplings, and more particularly to power operated devices for coupling or uncoupling sections of pipe and the like.

Sections of drill rod or pipe are usually connected together by a threaded connecting means of one form or another. 'I'he coupling or uncoupling of these sections by a pipe wrench is slow and dilicult as well as dangerous. It is therefore desirable that some form of a power operated means be provided for coupling. or uncoupling such sections.

An object of my invention is to provide improved means for coupling and uncouplng sections of pipe and the like. Another object is to provide improved means for coupling and uncoupling threaded connections for sections of drill rod or pipe for oil wells. Yet another object is to provide an improved power operated device for rotating one section of pipe or the like relative to another section to elect a coupling or an uncoupling of the sections. Still another object is to provide improved power operated devices for making or breaking the threaded connections for sections of pipe or the like. Other objects of my invention will be pointed out in the accompanying description.

In the accompanying drawing there is shown for purposes of illustration one form which my invention may assume in practice.

In this drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of my improved device for rotating a pipe section.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken on the plane of the line 3--3 of Fig. l.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are transverse sectional views taken, respectively, on the planes of the lines 4 4, 5-5, and 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a view like that of Fig. 1, but showing the device in different positions.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged side elevational view taken on the plane of the line 8-8 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of the fluid supply system for the device of Fig. 1.

Figs. 10 and 11 are transverse sectional views Aof the valve control means for the uid supply system and show the valve means in different positions.

Fig. 12 is a side elevational view of the device of Fig. 1 connected to one pipe section and of a fluid actuated holding device connected to an adjoining pipe section.

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the holding device of Fig. 12.

, Fig. 14 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the plane of the line I4I4 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line IS-IS of Fig. 13.

Referring to the drawings it will be noted that there is shown in Figs. 1 to 9 a uid actuated device, generally designated I, for gripping and rotating a pipe section 2 which forms in thiscase a portion of a drill rod. The device I includes a cylinder member 4 connected at its forward end, as shown in Fig. 3, to a head member 5. Diametrically opposite trunnions 6, 6 formed on the head member 5 are pivotally received in openings in support members 1 and 8 which are fixed, as vby screws I0, to a table or platform II having an opening through which the drill rod extends. Reciprocable within the cylinder member 4 isa piston I2 having a tubular piston rod I4 which extends forwardly through an opening I5 in the head member 5. A packing I6 is supported by the head member in engagement with the piston rod for preventing the escape of fluid from the cylinder member. The piston rod I4 is connected at its forward end, as by welding, to a frame I8 having leg portions 20 and 2l which are biiurcated at their forward ends to receive leg portions 24 and 25 of an arm 26 forming a portion of a tong, generally designated 21. The leg portions 24 and 25 of the tong arm are pivotally connected to the bifurcated portions of the legs 20 and 2| by pins 28 and 29.

Reciprocable within the cylinder member 4 is a second piston 3| having a piston rod 32 extending with substantial clearance through the tubular piston rod I4. A packing 33 is supported by the frame I8 in engagement with the piston rod 32 for preventing the escape of fluid through the clearance between the piston rods I4 and 32. The forward end of the piston rod 32 is threadedly connected to a member 34 having guideways 35 and 36 (Fig. 4) slidably receiving the leg portions 20 and 2| of the frame I8. The member 34 is forked at its forward end to receive one end of a link 38, and a pin 39 pivotally connects the link 38 to the forks of the member 34. The other endI of the link 38 is pivotally connected to a tong arm 4D of a length substantially equal to the length of the arm 26 and which extends between the legs 24 and 25 of the arm 26 and is pivotally connected to the latter at 42. Formed on the arms 26 and 40 of the tong 21 are jaw portions 43 and 44 which are adapted to clamp the pipe section 2 when the arms are swung relative to each other about the pivot 42. Inserts 45 in the jaw portions 43 and 44 operate to grip the pipe firmly on the clamping of the jaws. A handle 46 is provided for positioning the tong 21 manually relative to the pipe 2.

The space in the cylinder member 4 between the pistons I2 and 3l is connected by the clearance space between the piston rods and a port 43 (Fig. 5) in the frame I8 in communication with a. conduit 49. The space in the cylinder member at the forward side of the piston I2 is connected through a port 50 (Fig. 6) in the head member 5 in communicaton'with-a conduit 5I`, and the space in the cylinder member at the rearward side of the piston 3I is connected in communication with a conduit 52. The conduits 49, 5I and 52 are connected, as shown in Fig. r9,vin communication with the interior of a valve casing 54 containing a rotatable valve member 56. Extendingaxially through the valve member is ariluid supplypassage 56 which is connected by a port'5l in communication with a supply groove 58 formed in the periphery of the valve member. 'Opening 4into the interior of the valve casing is an. exhaust conduit 60 which is adapted to be connected by an exhaust groove 5I in the valv-e member in ccmmnnication with Vtl'e rconduits 49, 5I and 52.

To rotate vthe pipe 'section 2, the tong 2'! is moved manuallyto a position in which the jaw portions i3 and 44er the tong arms may grip the pipe section when the arms are swung relative to each other/in a clamping direction. The pistons I2 and 3! will be in the positions shown in Fig. 3 when the jaws of the tong are open and the latter is in its gripping position. The valve member 55 is then rotated to the position shown in Fig. 9 so that uid vis supplied from the passage 55 through the port5'! and the groove 58 to the conduit 49 which conducts it to the clearance space between the piston rods I4 and 32 where it passesv to the cylindermember f4 between the pistons and acts to force kthe piston 3! rearwardly in the cylinder member. Movement of the piston 3! rearwardly in the cylinder member causes the piston rod 32 to move to the right in Fig. 3 and pull the member 3!! with it, vthe member 35 sliding at this time along the legs 2!! and 2! of the,

frame !'8. The link 33 moves with the member 34 and swings the arm @il of the tong relative to the arm 25, causing the pipe section 2 to be iirmly gripped. The valve member 55 is then rotatedto the position shown in Fig. 10 for supplying fluid through lthe conduits i9 and 5I to the cylinder member to act on both of the pistons I2 and SI. Fluid acting on the piston 3! holds the tong clamped to the pipe section, and ,i

uid acting onthe piston I2 causes the frame I8 to move and swing the tong arm 2S for rotating the pipe'section. The tongis thenreleas'ed and moved'to a newgripping position by rotating the valve-member 55-to theposition shown in Fig. 11

so that fluid is vented fromthe forward sides of the pistons I2 and SI thrcughconduits 5I and 49, the exhaust'groove t! and the Yexhaust conduit Bil, and is supplied to the rearward side of the piston 3! through the conduit 52. The trunnionsi, permit the device I to swing into positions neces.- sary for the free actuation of the tong, and into positions awayfrom the pipe section when the tong is released. To rotate the pipe section 2 in the opposite direction it is only necessary to disconnect the support members 'i and 8 from the platform and invert the device I. The support members are then connected to the platform in a position to support the tong "so that it may-grip the pipe.

While the pipe section 2 is being rotated, it is necessary that the adjoiningupipe section, designated 2a in Fig. 12, be held against rotation. For holding the pipe section 2a against rotation, there is provided a fluid actuated device, generally designated 55. This device includes a cylinder 55 threaded at its forward end into an opening in a member 51 having diametrically opposite trunnions 68 and 59 rotatably received in openings formed in support members' it and 'Il attached,

4 as by screws l2, to the lower surface of the table or platform EI. `The member 57 is provided with forwardly projecting leg portions 'I4 and l5 which slidably support a forked member IS connected 'by a piston rod 'H to a piston 'I8 reciprccably con- 'Pivot pins 84 and 85 connect the leg portions of the'tongarm to the forks of the leg portions 'I4 and l5, as shownv in Fig. 14. A link 8'! is connected at one end by a pivot pin 88 to the forks of `the'member 'l5 and is connected at its other end by a pivot pint@ to a tong arm 9! of a length substantially equal to the'length of the arm 32 and extending between the le'g portions of the arm 82 and pivotallyconnected to the latter at 92. Jaw portions 93 and 95 formed on the tong arms 32 and 9! act to grip the pipe section 2a when the arm 9! is swung in a counter-clockwise direction in Fig. 13'relative to the arm 82. Conduits 95 and 95`communicate with the forward and rearward endsof the cylinder 66 for conducting uid relative' to the latter under the control of valve means not'shown. A handle 9'! connected to the tong arm 5.2 provides for the manual adjustment of the tong relative to the pipe section 2a. It will be seen that the device 65 may be swung about the axes of the trunnions 58 and 59 to position the tong when it is disengaged from the pipe section.

The supply of Fluid to the forward end of the cylinder through the conduit 95 and the exhaust of fluid rrom'the rear end of the cylinder through the conduit Se results'in a movement of the piston 'I8 rearwardly inthe cylinder to swing the tong arm 9| relative to the arm 82 and effect a clamping of the pipe section 2a. While the device I is operated to rotate the pipe section 2, the device 65 is held clamped to the section 2a. To release the device 65 it is only necessary to vent the forward end of the cylinder 66 and to supply uid to therear end of vthe cylinder.

While there is in this application specifically described one form which the invention may assume inzpractice, it will be understood that'this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration, and that the invention may be modied and embodied in various other forms ywithout departing from its spirit or the scope of .the appended claims.

What I claim as'new and'desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A coupling anduncoupling device comprising, in combination, a tong including pivotally connected arms having-"jaw portions for gripping a member to be rotated, and'fiuid'actuated means and between 'which andsaid arms relative movement occurs during swinging of said "arms for swinging said arms to eiect a grippingand a rotating of said member, said fluid actuated means including acyli'nder containing a pair of relatively movablepistons, means for respectively connecting said pistons to the outer ends of said arms, means for supplyingfluidto said cylinder between said `pistonsior eiectinga gripping action by said tong, vandmeans for supplying fluid to one of` said pistons for-effecting when said tong is effecting'a vgripping action, an actuation of said tong to rotate said member.

2; A coupling' and uncouplingVV device comprising, in combination, aftongincluding pivotally connected armsha'ving'jaw portions 'for gripping a member to be rotated, and fluid actuated means operatively connected to the outer ends of said arms and between which and said arms relative movement occurs during swinging of said arms for` swinging said arms to effect a gripping and a rotating of said member, said iluid actuated means including a cylinder containing a pair of relatively` movable pistons, means including a tubular piston rod for connecting one of said pistons to the outer end of one of said tong arms, apiston rod extending through said tubular piston rod for connecting the other of said pistons to the outer end ofthe other of said tong arms, means for supplying fluid to said cylinder between said pistons for effecting a gripping action by said tong, and means for supplying fluid to one of said pistons for effecting, when said tong is eifecting'a gripping action, an actuation of said tong lto rotate said member.

' 3. A coupling and uncoupling device comprising, in combination, a tong including pivotally connected arms having jaw portions for gripping a member to be rotated, and fluid actuated means for swinging said arms to effect a gripping and af rotating of said member, said uid actuated means including a cylinder vcontaining a pair of pistons, means including a tubular piston rod for connecting one of said pistons to one of said tong arms, a piston rod extending with substantial clearance through said tubular piston rod and connecting the other of said pistons to the other of said tong arms, means for supplying uid through the space between said piston rods to said cylinder for actuating said pistons to effect gripping action by said tong, and means for supplying fluid to one of said pistons for effecting, when said tong is effecting a gripping action,

an actuation of said tong to rotate said member.

4. A'coupling and uncoupling device comprising, in combination, a tong including pivotally connected arms having jaw portions for gripping a member to bev rotated, fluid actuated means for' actuating said tong and between which and said arms relative movement occurs during swinging of said arms, said fluid actuated means including a cylinder containing a pair of relatively movable pistons, means for respectively connecting said pistons to the outer ends of said tong arms, fluid conducting means communicating withy the ends of said cylinder and with the space in'said cylinder between said pistons, and means for connecting said fluid conducting means selectively to a fluid supply and exhaust.

5. A coupling and uncoupling device comprising, in combination, a tong including pivotally connected arms having jaw portions for gripping a member to be rotated, fluid actuated means for actuating said tong, said fluid actuated means including a cylinder containing a pair of pistons, means including a tubular piston rod for connecting one of said pistons to one of said tong arms, a piston rod extending with substantial clearance through said tubular piston rod for connecting the other of said pistons to the other of said tong arms, separate fluid conducting means communicating with the ends of said cylinder and, through the clearance between said piston rods, with the space in said cylinder between said pistons, and means for connecting said iluid conducting means selectively to a uid supply and exhaust.

6. Coupling and uncoupling apparatus for jointed tool sections comprising, in combination, tongs including pivotally connected arms having jaw portions lfor gripping adjacent tool sections, means for actuating one of said tongs to effect a gripping and holding of its tool section, said last mentioned means including a cylinder containing a piston, means for connecting said piston to the outer end of one arm of said one of said tongs, means for connecting said cylinder to the outer end of the other arm of said one of said tongs, and means for supplying uid to said piston, means for actuating the other of said tongs to effect a gripping and a rotating of its tool section, said last mentioned means including a cylinder containing a pair of relatively movable pistons, means for connecting said pair of pistons to the outer ends of the -arms of said other tong, means for supplying iluid to said last mentioned cylinder between said pistons to move one piston relative to the other for effecting a gripping action by saidvother tong, and means for supplying fluid toV one of said pair of pistons for effecting, when said other tong is effecting a gripping action, an actuation of sai other tong to rotate its tool section.

7. A coupling and uncoupling device comprising, in combination, a tong including pivotally connected, relatively swingable lever arms of substantially equal length and each provided at its inner end with a jaw portion for gripping a member to be rotated, power operated means including power devices respectively operatively connected to the outer ends of said lever arms, and means for controlling the flow of power medium to said power devices of said power operated means and positionable first to effect operation of one of said power devices for swinging one lever arm relative to the other to cause said jaw portions to grip the member to be rotated and thereafter to effect operation of both of said power devices to swing said lever arms in unison to effect rotation of the member gripped by said jaw portions.

8. A coupling and uncoupling device comprising, in combination, a tong including pivotally connected, relatively swingable lever arms of substantially equal length and each provided at its inner end with a jaw portion for gripping a member to be rotated, power operated means including power devices respectively operatively connected to the outer ends of said lever arms, and means for controlling the iiow of power medium to said power devices of said power operated means and positionable first to elect operation of one of said power devices for swinging one lever arm relative to the other to cause said jaw portions to grip the member to be rotated and thereafter to effect operation of both power devices to swing said lever arms in unison to eiect rotation of the member gripped by said jaw portions, said power devices including relatively movable power actuated elements arranged in coaxial relation, one element operatively connected to each lever arm, and said controlling means including a control device for controlling the flow of power medium to said power actuated elements to effect movement of one element relative to the other or movement of said elements in unison to effect the functions speciiied.

9. A coupling and uncoupling device comprising, in combination, a tong including pivotally connected, relatively swingable lever arms of substantially equal length and each provided at its inner end with a jaw portion for gripping a member to be rotated, power operated means including power devices respectively operatively connected to the outer ends of said lever arms, and means for controlling the flow of power medium to said power devices of said power operated 7 means and positionable rst to effect operation of one of said power devices for swinging' one lever arm relative to the other to cause said. .iaw portions to grip the member to be rotated and for thereafter operating both power devices to swing said lever arms in unison t'o effect rotation of the member gripped by said jaw portions, said power devices each comprising a fluid actuated piston, said pistons being relatively movable and one piston operatively connected to each lever arm, and said controlling means including control valve means for controlling the flow of pressure uid to said pistons for effecting relative movement between said pistons or movement of said pistons in unison to effect the functions specified.

10. Acoupling and uncoupling device comprising, in combination, a. tong including pivotally connected, relatively swingable, elongated. lever arms of substantially equal length and each provided at its inner end with a jaw portion for gripping a member to be rotated, power operated means supported. at a xed point independently of said lever arms and relative to which said lever arms are swingable, said power operated means including power devices respectively operatively connected to the outer ends of said lever arms,

. and controlling means for said power operated` means including a4 control device for controlling the flow of power medium to said power devices and positionable to first operate one of said. devices to effect relative swinging movement between said lever arms to cause said jaw portions to grip the member to be rotated and to thereafter operate both of said power devices toeffect swinging of said lever arms in unison for rotating the member gripped by said jaw portions.

11. A coupling and uncoupling device comprising, in combination, elongated relatively movable lever arms of similar length each having a jaw portion at its inner end for gripping the member to be rotated and pivotally connected together near the jaw portions thereof, power operated means including relatively movable power devices respectively operatively connected to the outer ends of said lever arms, and controlling means for controlling the flow of power medium to said power devices and positi'onable first to effect operation of one of said power devices to effect relative swinging movement between said lever arms to cause said jaw portions to grip the member to be rotated and thereafter to effect operation. of both of saidpower devices for swing'.- ing' said lever arms in unison to rotate the member gripped by said jaw portions.

12. A coupling. andy uncoupling. device comprising, in combination, a tongv including. pivotally connected lever. arms having at their inner ends jaw portions for gripping a member to be rotated, fluid actuated means including fluid actuated devices respectively operatively connected to the outer ends of said lever arms and relative to which said arms are movable during swinging of said arms, and controlling means for said uid actuated. means for controlling flow of pressure fluid to said fluid actuated devices and positionable first to effect swinging of one lever arm relative to the other to cause said jaw portions to grip the member to be rotated and thereafter, while said jaw portions are held in gripping relation with the member to be rotated, to effect swinging of said lever arms in unison to rotate the member gripped by said jaw portions.

HARRY C; JOHANSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,401,405 Hole Dec. 27, 192i 1,615,695 Grattan Jan. 25, 1927 1,736,009 Nixon Nov. 19, 1929 2,3l1,225 Grable Feb. 16, 1943 

